Maverhick: Shirts

The Rise of Iloilo’s BKNWA

THE Bakunawa of Visayan folklore was the devourer of celestial bodies, a giant winged serpent that every once and while would attempt to engulf the moon, causing eclipses. From the time of our ancestors to present day, this creature still endures - never tiring, persistent in its drive to devour and conquer.

While other visual artists would aspire to have their work displayed in art galleries, Daniel decided to take a different approach and had his ink sketches printed on t-shirts.

BKNWA (pronounced Bakunawa) is the brainchild of 25 year-old Daniel Fern Tinagan, the name inspired by the surreal Visayan myth. He shares that it was a need to express his individuality and the frustration of not being able to exhibit his artworks that compelled him to start his own business.

With BKNWA rolling out a new batch of shirts every few months, hundreds of loyal customers are gladly taking on the role of walking canvases and billboards for Daniel’s art. If you can’t showcase your art at museums, why not subvert the medium, and create art that people can actually wear, right?

Starting out as an online only store in 2013 with limited prints and a modest start-up, BKNWA has gradually developed a following. Daniel’s unique and striking tribal art designs, printed on simple clean-cut t-shirts set it apart from the mainstream. Inspired by folklore and mysticism, shirt designs have ranged from the hypnotic symmetry of dream catchers to the delicate veins of an anatomical heart. Daniel ensures that “Everyone who can appreciate art in any form. Anyone who promotes art in any way they can” will definitely feel comfortable wearing BKNWA.

His design process starts out with pencil and ink, all of his design being hand-drawn first before being scanned, enlarged, and retouched until ready to be transferred to printing plates. As for where he gets ideas for designs - “Inspiration is constant, you can be inspired by anything that matters to anyone. The designs mostly focus on creating questions that can make the mind work. Just with that, you will never run out of things to draw.”

Daniel Tinagan works for a BPO Company here in Iloilo, but still always finds time for BKNWA. “Sleep happens when sleep happens and I'm not complaining.” And it seems sleep is truly not a priority here, with more pop-up shops, events, and expansion plans in the works, Daniel has his hands full.

Daniel/Fern

With plans of setting up its first shop in Iloilo this January, BKNWA is on the verge of evolving into an up and coming brand. “Do not think twice on spending more on coffee” is Daniel’s advice to other young creatives and entrepenuers, “But seriously, the usual cheesy stuff, love what you do. Once you can do that, everything else just follows through smoothly.”

There are many parallels to the narrative of the brand and the myth of the serpent Bakunawa, most striking is the perseverance and persistence to conquer – with undeniable drive, striving and persisting to achieve their goal even, even if it’s as difficult as trying to swallow the moon.